That night, Gary and Kelly came back home and switched on the light in the living room. They almost jumped when they saw someone sitting on the couch.

Kelly recovered first. "What's wrong with you, Dana?! Sitting here at night like some ghost, trying to scare us like that?!"

Dana looked at her and said, "I thought you were too afraid to go outside and socialize?"

There was a flicker in Kelly's eyes. "Where I go is none of your business!"

She then stormed upstairs without looking back.

Gary walked over, stiff and unnatural. "I took Kelly to see a therapist."

"You should. She went up to the roof again today, and she said she wants Sandy to be her sister-in-law," Dana said.

Gary frowned, impatient. "She's not well after what she went through. Just put up with it a little longer."

"Put up with it?" Dana got up to her feet. "How much more am I supposed to put up with? She orders me around, forces me to slap myself, makes me kneel and apologize to her, I..."

Gary's expression darkened as he cut her off with a sharp voice. "Enough! Who do you think made her like this?!"

Dana's nails dug into her palm.

-

Two years ago, they had just parked outside a restaurant when Kelly had messaged Gary and told him to pick her up from school.

Dana's fingers had been interlocked with his, and she leaned in and kissed his neck, her voice soft as she pleaded, "It's my birthday today. Can you stay with me... Until we are done?"

Gary hesitated, then nodded. "Alright."

Before they could even get out of the car, Kelly called again.

"I'll explain it to her," Gary said, reaching for his phone.

Dana suddenly snatched it and shut it off, furious. "She always has some reason to drag you away. She's already an adult. You don't need to watch her every second. She will always be more important than me in your heart, right?"

Gary looked at her and finally sighed. "Our parents died early. It's just the two of us now. Maybe… I'm too anxious when it comes to her."

They were halfway through dinner when the driver rushed in. "Sir! Ms. Hill has been kidnapped!"

Gary did not find Kelly until the next day in an abandoned warehouse.

She had been tortured all night by their family's enemy, covered in bruises and cuts, with her eyes unfocused.

-

"Yes, it's my fault she turned out like this..." Dana's voice was hoarse. "But for the past two years, I have worked myself to the bone taking care of her. She has already crushed my pride. Am I supposed to be tortured by her for the rest of my life?"

Gary fell quiet suddenly and wouldn't look at her. Then, his voice became unnaturally stiff as he said, "The therapist said Kelly needs some emotional support right now, so Sandy will be moving in tomorrow."

"What?" Dana stared at him in disbelief.

"When Kelly feels better, I'll have her move out," Gary said quickly.

Dana looked at him. "Gary, I went to the registry office today."

Gary froze, and his fingers tightened without thinking.

"They told me we are already divorced," Dana said with a smile, but tears rolled from the corners of her eyes. "You already had it planned. You were just waiting for me to make room for Sandy."

Gary rushed forward and grabbed her wrist, his tone nervous, "It's not what you think! Kelly threatened to kill herself. I had no choice. Don't worry, Dana. When she's more stable, we'll remarry. I will never let you suffer again, alright?"

"Threatened to kill herself?" Dana yanked her arm free, her voice rising. "How many times has she used that on us? She used that every time, and you always believed her!"

Gary snapped too, veins popping out at his temple. "She's my sister! The only family I have in this world! I can't gamble with her life! I cannot afford to!

"Dana, why are you always pushing me?! Don't you know how hard it is for me to get stuck between the two of you?! Can't you just be understanding for once?"

Dana looked into Gary's eyes and almost laughed. Had she not been understanding enough?

The first time she had met Kelly, Kelly had shoved her into the pool right in front of Gary. He had said, "Kelly is just a spoiled kid. Go easy on her."

On their wedding day, not only had Kelly not shown up, but she had even locked all the villa's doors. Dana had stood outside in her wedding dress, freezing for half an hour. In the end, they had to spend their wedding night in a hotel.

Gary had said then, "I'm sorry you were done dirty like this. Give it time. Kelly will accept you."

After Kelly was kidnapped, she took it out on Dana every day. If she could not see Dana, she would throw a fit.

Gary begged Dana with red eyes, "Help me. It won't be for long..."

Every time, Dana endured it.

But now, she did not want to anymore. "I'm tired, Gary."

Gary immediately pulled her into his arms. "Dana, I love you."

He tightened his hold, his voice almost pleading. "Do it for me. Just for a little longer, alright?"

Dana went stiff in his embrace, as if she had agreed.

They were already divorced anyway.

It did not matter.

In the end, Gary let go of Dana and said awkwardly, "Get some rest. There is still work to do at the office, so I'm going back for some overtime."

After that, he left, almost as though something was chasing after him.

Dana watched him disappear out of the doorway, and her tears surged.

Back then, whenever she worked late, he would show up with something hot to pick her up. He remembered everything she liked. When she got sick, he stayed by her bedside all night…

Those real kindnesses once made her believe she would have a lifetime of happiness.

But seven years of love had ultimately come to an end.

Dana wiped her tears, pulled out her phone, made an appointment to reissue the divorce certificate, and bought a plane ticket that was scheduled to leave in three days.

-

Early the next morning, noises from downstairs woke her.

She went down and saw Sandy standing in the living room, several suitcases piled up beside her.

Kelly snaked her arm around Sandy's and said sweetly, "Sandy, you've finally made it!"

Sandy smiled and patted her hand, then turned to Gary as she said softly, "Gary, my mom is worried that I can't settle in, so she packed a lot of things for me. I'm sorry for this."

Gary replied easily, "We grew up together. Your mom has looked out for Kelly and me for years. You don't need to be courteous with me."

When Kelly noticed Dana, the smile on her face turned cold at once, her tone dripping with bitterness. "Why are you standing there with that nasty face? Sandy is living here to keep me company from now on!"

Sandy stepped forward, gentle and warm. "The psychologist said Kelly can't handle stress, so I came to stay with her so she can be happier."

Dana said nothing and just looked at them quietly.

Gary spoke in a low tone, "Dana already agreed to it."

"This is my house. Who cares if she agrees or not?" Kelly said with a sneer. "If she doesn't like it, she can move out."

Then she turned back to Sandy, her voice sweet again. "Let's go. I'll take you upstairs, and we can pick the best room."

Not long after, heavy thuds started coming from upstairs. Dana went up and found a disaster outside her bedroom. Her clothes and bags had been tossed onto the floor along with the bedside lamp, decorative paintings, and more.

Everything she and Gary had carefully chosen together had been dumped out like trash.

Kelly stood in the middle of the bedroom with her hands on her hips, directing the house staff as they moved things around.

Sandy lingered by the doorway and slowly said, "If I share a room with Kelly, I might disturb her rest. But if I stay too far away, I can't take care of her in time. This room is the closest to hers, so..."

Gary walked over, glanced at Dana, and was about to say something.

However, Dana cut in first with a calm voice, "It's fine. You can stay in whichever room you want."

She crouched down and started gathering her things.

"Dana," Gary looked down at her, guilt in his voice, "You'll have to stay in the guest room for now. After a while, we can redecorate the room..."

"You already let her move in. Where I sleep makes no difference," Dana said.

Gary fell silent, his gaze landing on a rabbit plush on the floor.

It was the prize they had won on their first date at an amusement park. He bent down to pick it up, his voice tense. "This was from our first trip to Dreamland, and we stood in line for half an hour just to win it. You don't want it anymore?"

Dana paused for a moment and eventually said, "Just throw it out. It's too old, anyway."

"Dana..." Gary held the plush and hurried after her. "What's going on with you? You weren't like this before..."

"It's nothing," Dana answered Gary, her voice carrying a faint, bitter tone. "I'm just making room for you two for Kelly's illness. Isn't that what you wanted?"

Gary opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Dana was in the guest room putting away clothes when Kelly's voice rang out, sharp and impatient. "Dana, where are you? Get down here and make dinner!"

Dana went downstairs. Gary, Kelly, and Sandy were all sitting on the living room couch.

The moment Dana appeared, Kelly glared at her. "Why are you so slow? Just how lazy are you? Can't you see we're all hungry? Go make dinner!"

Dana's gaze swept over Sandy. "Ms. Miller is here now. Let her do it. You'll definitely like her cooking more, anyway."

Kelly snapped back at her, "Sandy's precious hands are for playing piano. How could you expect her to do chores?"

She then turned to Gary, acting all hurt. "Gary, look at her! She eats our food, lives in our house, and now, she won't even cook us a meal! Does she have any conscience at all?!"

Sandy put on a troubled expression, her voice still gentle. "Kelly, don't be upset. I have never cooked before, but I'm willing to try for you. I'm just afraid it won't taste good."

Gary's tone softened. "Sandy, just sit."

He then stood up and turned to Dana. "Dana, you go. Sandy has never done this before. She shouldn't be in the kitchen."

Dana's chest felt like it was being crushed by something, and she could feel the pain. She remembered when they were dating, Gary would hold her hands and look at her with tenderness. "Your hands are meant for painting. I'll never let you work hard."

But now?

It was as if Dana had been born to do chores, while it was suffering for Sandy to just step into the kitchen.

Gary seemed to realize his words were unfair, so he softened his tone. "If you're tired, have Mrs. Johnson help you."

Dana said nothing as she turned and walked into the kitchen. She said to Mrs. Johnson, "Please handle dinner today."

Then, she leaned against the kitchen door, making no move to do anything herself.

The next day at breakfast, Kelly suddenly set down her fork, her eyes glittering. "Gary, I never got to go to your wedding. What a shame... Why don't you have another wedding? Between you and Sandy? I want to be the bridesmaid."

Gary froze, his fork suspended in midair as he shot a quick look toward Dana. Then, he frowned at Kelly. "Kelly, stop it."

"I'm not joking." Kelly's lips quivered and her eyes reddened. "What if my depression acts up one day and I'm suddenly gone? I would regret never seeing my own brother's wedding! I would not be able to die in peace..."

Sandy reached out and gently patted Kelly's hand, sounding conflicted. "Kelly, don't say that. You'll get better. And... Dana... that would not be appropriate."

Kelly immediately turned on Dana. "Dana, you won't mind, right? I missed my brother's wedding before, and now, I want to watch him marry Sandy. You won't interfere and leave me with regrets for life, would you?"

Dana slowly set her fork and knife down, her tone calm. "It's fine. If you want to have a wedding, go ahead."

All three of them stared at her, stunned.

Gary's voice shot up, full of disbelief. "What did you say?!"